Adding-machine



(No Model.)

B. GORBIN. ADDING MACHINE.

No. 445,240. Patented Jan. 27,1891.

UNITED STATES PATENT OEEIcE.

ROYAL CORBIN, OF PLATTSBURG, NEXV YORK.

ADDING-MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 445,240, dated January 27, 1891.

Application filed July 16, 1890. Serial No. 358,881. (No model.)

To all whom 1'15 may concern:

Be it known that I, ROYAL CORBIN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Plattsburg, in Clinton county, and State of New YOI'K, have. invented a new and useful Adding-Machine, of which the followiugis a speciiication.

My invention relates to improvements in that kind of adding-machines which are operated by inserting a pencil or pointer in holes or openings in a units or motor wheel, and moving the wheel to a stop in conjunction with a wheel registering tens, &c., both wheels being attached to a plate or plates; and the objects of myinvention are, generally, to produce a simple and compact little machine capable of adding units up to 200, of the lightest material and i'ewest parts possible, and of the smallest dimensions compatible with ease to the'eye and hand in working it, and.that may be used in schools and by children to illustrate and interest in the process of addition, superior to the abacus in showing the manner and power of the decimal notation, and that can be made for a few cents; and, more particularly, first, as the machine is intended when in use to be held in the hand by the plate, to so construct the machine that the said plate may be made of material not unpleasant to handle-e g., stiff paper or press-board; second, to take motion from as near the center of units-wheel as practicable and apply it to the circumference of tenswheel, at the same time keeping both wheels in immediate contact with the plateand using smallest space; third, to use but one plate or supporting part; fourth, as the wheels are intended to be made of very thin metal to stay especially the units or motor wheel from twisting or warping in its rotation by the pencil; fifth, to secure the hold of the pencil on the lugs in rotating the units-wheel; sixth, to secure the proper engagement of tappets for carrying tens to the tens-wheel; seventh, to have all the parts mutually stay and stiffen each other. I attain these objects by the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure l is a front view of the machine as it appears when held before the operator, and in which position my description supposes it to be held, showing the parts, except the body of the units-whcel, the lugs of which show projecting above the plate. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal vertical section'through the axes of the wheels in line y y of Fig. l; and Figs.'3, 4, and 5 are detail views of the units-wheel, the ten s-wheel, and the holding-plate, respectively.

There are only the following parts, viz: plate A, which Fig. 5 shows detached; unitswheel B, which Fig. 3 shows detached; tenswheel 0, which Fig. at shows detached; disk D, with tappets E E, (shown in Figs. 1 and 3,) and two common eyelets.

Similar letters refer to similar parts.

The following are details of the construction and operation of the machine. The dimensions mentioned are such as I think best adapted to the purposes above set forth, but I do not limit myself to them.

The plate A is of the shape shown in the drawings. The rectangular part is of such size as to be conveniently held in the handabout two by three inches-and projects on each side of semicircular part about onefourth inch, so that the hand holding it may be clear of units wheel. The semicircular part is of a radius of about one and oneeighth inch, centering below the top line of the rectangular part by one-half the width of the lugs ot' units-wheel, so that one lug of the units-wheel may point Vertically whenever in working the machine the units-wheel is brought to a stop. The plate has three circular holes--one hole at center of semicircle for attachment of units-wheel, one above said center vertically and at same distance from said center as figures inscribed on units-wheel are from center of said wheel, so that proper digit may be seen through said hole, and third hole below the center of semicircle and just inside body of units-wheel for the attachment of the tensavheel. Digits and O are inscribed on the margin of semicircular part at equal distances. The body of the units-wheel B is of the same radius as the semicircular part of the plate, and has twentylugs projecting each about one-tenth inch beyond semicircle, said lugs being made hatchet-shaped (thus, n) to secure hold of the pencil or stylus. This wheel carries on its surface two series of digits and Os and half-revolution counts ten. The wheel is pierced with circular central hole of same size as central plate-hole. The disk D is a small disk of about one-fourth inch radius with central circular hole of same size as central plate-hole. It carries two arms or tappets of about oneeighth inch length and slightly bent up at extremities to secure engagement of said tappets with cogs or lugs of tens-wheel for carrying tens. The tenswheel 0 carries inscribed thereon tens from one ten to nineteen tens, and is of about three-fourths inch radius, so as to have its center just inside of circumference of the body of the units-wheel, and has central circular hole of same size as lower plate hole.

The parts above described are put together with two common eyelets adapted to the holes, (common ri'vets might be used, though not so convenient-)as follows: The centerof the tenswheel andthe lower plate hole are brought together and by an eyelet fastened together somewhat closely, but not so closely as to bind. The center of the units-wheel, the center of the disk, and central plate-hole are then brought together and by an eyelet fastened together somewhat closely, but not so closely as to bind, and the wheel, disk, and eyelet are then by a touch of solder or other equivalent process consolidated or fixed to each other.

The purpose of the figures on the plate and wheels is sufiiciently obvious. The machine is worked by putting a pencil or pointer between the lugs of the units-wheel over the figure to be added shown on the margin and moving the wheel to a stop on the right. Re-

' sults are read-un1ts through the aperture at I wise with the other wheel; but the adaptation of the plate and wheels of an adding-machine by means of the position and relation between them, which I have set forth to that mode of communicating motion, is, I believe, new in an adding-machine. By this arrangement and construction of the plate and wheels I attain the following new uses and results:

First. The plate becomes at one and the same time not only a support for the structure, but also a bearing for an arbor, and a cover for the figures on the unitswheel, and a stay for the units-wheel in its rotation.

Second. I can readily use stiflf paper or press-board for the plate. It would be diflicult to use such paper if the pivot of the main wheel'i. a, units-wheel-were to be fixed in the plate. When the pivot or arbor turns in the plate the difficulty is obviated.

Third. I can take motion from near the center of the units-wheel and transfer it to the circumference of the tens-wheel, at the same time keeping both wheels directly in contact with the plate and using the smallest space. If both wheels are 011 the same'side of the plate, then one must be external to the other, or one must overlap the other. If one is external to the other, more space is taken. If one overlaps the other, then one or the other must be supported by something besides the plate.

Fourth. I secure the most'advantageous application of power by taking it from unitswheel where slowest, and applying it to the tens-wheel on its circumference, thereby 0bviating any possible slight binding of parts.

Fifth. All the parts mutually stay and stiffen each other, and the radius of the tappets being reduced to a minimum helps to secure their proper engagement in tenswheel.

\Vhat I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In an adding-machine, the plate A, constructed of the rectangular portion and the semicircular portion, and having on the margin of the semicircular portion suitable numerals or characters, in combination with the units-wheel and the tens-wheel movably attached to opposite sides of said plate, and the intermediate tappet, substantially as described.

2. In an adding-machine, the combination, with the plate A, constructed as described, and having the three vertically-arranged openings, of the units-wheel B, attached to one side of said plate by means of an eyelet passing through the central opening thereof, a tappet attached to the other side of said plate by means of the same eyelet, and atenswheel having its bearing in the lower opening on the other side of the plate and adapted to be turned by the movement imparted to said units-wheel, substantially as setforth.

ROYAL CORBIN.

Witnesses:

WILLIAM G. BOSWORTH, S. VILAs BEOKVVITH. 

